Capitals top prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov already has five goals in 10 games in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League playing for club team Traktor Chelyabinsk. The 19-year-old center wanted to stay at home for another season. And that was fine with Washington, especially after Kuznetsov underwent shoulder surgery following last season.
“There’s some upside with that player and it looks like he’s developing okay,” Caps general manager George McPhee said. “You can develop some bad habits in that league. It’s good to play against men. That helps. But his time to come over will be next year. He should come over next year because…there are areas where he can improve and needs to start doing that.”
McPhee said there are no indications that Kuznetsov won’t make the jump to North America for the 2012-13 season – though “if he didn’t come over for next year that may be an issue.” The hope is Kuznetsov will develop physically before next season. He is listed at 6-foot-2 on the official KHL web site, but just 176 pounds. Kuznetsov is tied for sixth in the KHL with those five goals and has one assist.
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